Tommy Emmanuel: Humanitarian - Tommy Emmanuel C.G.P

Tommy Emmanuel: Humanitarian

6/30/2010

by Leslie Dawson - This article appeared in Just Jazz Guitar Magazine, August 2010 Edition

The following is excerpts of a telephone interview with Tommy Emmanuel on May 29, 2010. Tommy was in Portland, ME for a couple of concerts before heading to the UK to celebrate his birthday with his girls. This compilation is for Just Jazz Magazine, Ed Benson.

Tommy was asked how did he come up with the idea to auction his personal guitars on eBay to aid in the recovery efforts in Haiti?

After the earthquake in Haiti, Tommy sent some money to UNICEF, which is his chosen charity this year. Each year, he picks a charity to support. This year, it's UNICEF. Others have included The Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and World Vision. About a week after the catastrophe, Tommy was watching CNN & saw all the orphans and wondered what he could do to help. The idea to auction some of his personal guitars to aid in the recovery efforts came from a friend who was watching the news with him. The next day, the announcement was posted on his website and then the campaign just took off. He raised over $38,000. From those funds, he was told by a UNICEF representative that over 200,000 children received inoculations.

In England, people bid for private lessons with Tommy. The money raised goes to UNICEF.

Some of the people that bid on the guitars listed on eBay stated that they would give back the guitars to Tommy because he is the only one who could make them "sing." I asked Tommy what did happen to those guitars?

Tommy: They all went to the fans & I had dinner with each recipient.

I read in an email from his manager that he was involved with the Guitar Ministries. I asked him how did he get involved?

Tommy: I have been with the ministry for about five years, and I first heard about them through the Chet Atkins Society.

Tommy has been an avid supporter of this ministry in Baton Rouge, LA. He donates special personal guitars that are auctioned to raise money for the ministry to purchase more guitars. The portability and universal acceptance of the guitar makes it the ideal instrument to be used in the missions field.

From Guitar Ministries' website: "Tommy's talent is beyond description. But, above that, he has a love for God, and is excited about the ministry that we have in giving guitars to missionaries and Christian workers all over the world. Tommy has donated some priceless guitars to our ministry, including the one-of-a-kind guitar that was built for him to play in the closing ceremonies for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. This guitar is a wonderful, hand-made Travis guitar and was the one Tommy used to record one of his Grammy nominated songs. "

I asked if he was working on a CD at the present time?

Tommy: Yes – the recording has 22 tracks with two new songs.

We'll all be looking forward to that release. Check Tommy's website for updates and his tour schedule: www.tommyemmanuel.com

© Leslie N. Dawson, June 8, 2010